Brassiere



A-v E. PAXTON Feb. 12, 1963 BRASSIERE Filed April 12, 1961 on "oINVENTOR.

ANTHONY E. PAXT ON United States Patent 0,.

3,077,196 BRASSIERE Anthony E. Paxton, 57-17 79th Ave., Glendale, N.Y.Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 102,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 128.-=-.463)

This invention relates to new and improved brassieres and moreparticularly to a unitary one-piece molded plastic brassiere.

The present invention comprises a unitary molded plastic brassierehaving two cup portions and a band portion. Thematerial has sutficientflexibility for fitting around the body but has sufiicient stitfness tomaintain its shape without wires or other stiffening means so that it issuitable for cases of breast surgery. The present device is imperviousto water and-is therefore suitable for use in bathing suits.

The present device has suitable ventilating apertures and a plurality ofapertures at the ends of the band portion for mounting a holding backstrap. The present device may be sewn into a garment through suitableapertures provided and may be worn without the back strap. Anotheradvantage is that it may be washed and dried with a towel, and suitablefor wearing in less than one minute. If desired a cloth lining may beapplied by covering the inside surface with an adhesive and pressing,blowing or otherwise applying cotton or other material to the insidesurface.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved brassiere means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans which will maintain its shape without wires or other stiffeningmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans which will maintain its shape in water for use in bathing suits.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans for use in cases of breast surgery.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans which may be sewn into garments, thereby maintaining the shape ofthe garment at all times without wrinkling.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans which may be tailored with an ordinary scissor, for instance toprovide a halfbrassiere.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved brassieremeans which may be washed and dried with a towel and suitable for wearin less than one minute.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specifications and drawings of which-- FIGS. 1 and 3 are frontperspective views of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the figures the invention comprises a unitary molded membercomprising a pair of cup portions 1, 2 and a band portion 3 connected tothe underside of the cup portions. The band portion 3 extends past thecup portions on either side and has a plurality of apertures 4, 5, 6, 7,etc. and 4', 5', 6', 7', etc. for receiving hooks of a back mountingstrap 9 which may be con ventional. The apertures 4, 5 and 6, etc. arespaced in pairs to receive hooks of a back strap having an adjustablebuckle 8. The pairs of mounting holes or aperlures are spaced in bothhorizontal and vertical directions to provide suitable adjustments formounting the whole strap 9. Between the cup portions 1 and 2 ad-3,077,195 Patented Feb. 12 1963 jacent the lower band portion 3 there isa plurality of apertures 10, 11 and 12 which are formed'like the letterA to provide sufiicient flexibility for fitting. There is another lineof apertures 13, 14 and 13', 14 on'the underside of each cup portion forventilation. There is a third line of apertures 15, 16, etc. and 15',16, etc. near the upper edge of the cup portions 1 and2. This line ofapertures 15, 16, etc. provides a convenient guide for cutting down theupper portion of the brassiere for fitting purposesor to form ademi-bra. There are several radial lines of aperturesltl, 21 and 2 0,21, in each cup portion for providing guide lines tor cutting the memberdown to a half-brassiere. The lines of apertures 20, 21 and 20, 21 areacrossthe center ofthe cup portions. All of the apertures described aresuitable for use in sewing the member into a garment.

The device is preferably made of a conventional plastic material such aspolyethylene or poly-vinyl-chloride. The device may be made in aconventional mold, for instance with polyethylene. The material may bein jected into the mold at a temperature of 25 to 300 F. with a pressureof approximately 5,000 lbs. per square inch. However, thesespecifications are not critical. The mold is preferably of the watercooled type so that the molded piece will set in somewhat less than oneminute.

The thickness of the molded piece is preferably on the order of .050 to.090, being somewhat thinner along the edge portions. This thickness ofthe above material provides a member having sufficient flexibility forproper fitting but yet having sufficient stitfness for maintaining itsshape without any additional stiffening means.

The device will also maintain its shape in water and it is thereforesuitable for bathing suits. The device may be tailored or fitted with anordinary scissors as desired and may be worn with the back mountingstrap or may be easily sewn into a garment or bathing suit. The devicemay be also cut down to a demi-bra by cutting along the guide apertures15 and 16, etc. as shown in FIG. 1, or may be cut down to a half-bra bycutting along the lines 20, 21, etc. as shown in FIG. 3.

For use in bathing suits remove all wires, boning and padding in bathingsuit. Remove adjustable back from bra and insert bra under front bathingsuit flap. Since all bathings suits are diiierent, trim bra withscissors to fit where necessary. Pin or tack with a few stitches.

For bikini bathing suits, convert the bra into a demibra by simplycutting the top off with scissors on the line of perforations 15, 16,etc. Trim bra with scissors wherever necessary. Pin or tack with a fewstitches. Use with or without adjustable back, as suits your purpose.

For formals and sun back dresses, use with or without adjustable back.If used without adjustable back, simply pin or stitch bra into dress.Cut off top if necessary.

The present device is ideal to wear under a brassiere as an insert, ifdesired. If additional ventilation is re quired, holes may be cut in thesolid portions of cups with a razor blade.

To wash, remove adjustable back and dip bra in warm sudsy water. Rinseand wipe dry. The bra is ready to wear again in one minute.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member ofuniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion undersaid cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with thecup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portionsthereof being provided with adjustment apertures aoemoe spaced inhorizontal and vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connectoror back strap.

2. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member ofuniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion undersaid cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with thecup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portionsthereof being provided with adjustment apertures spaced in horizontaland vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connector or backstrap, and an adjustable back strap removably connected to saidapertures at each end of said band portion.

3. A unitary molded plastic brassiere comprising a continuous member ofuniform thickness having a pair of cup portions, a band portion undersaid cup portions, said band portion being integrally formed with thecup portions and extending rearwardly and inwardly, the end portionsthereof being provided with adjustment apertures spaced in horizontaland vertical directions to provide adjustment for a connector or strap,an adjustable back strap removably connected to said apertures at eachend of said band portion, a horizontal line of apertures through thecenter of said cup portions to facilitate cutting off the upper portionsof said cup portions, to form a half brassiere and a second line ofapertures spaced a predetermined amount from the upper edge of said cupportions to facilitate cutting off the upper portion of said cupportions, for converting to a demi-brassiere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,294,589 Waterbury Sept. 1, 1942 72,391,417 Hill Dec. 25, 19452,445,767 Dickerson July 27, 1948 2,477,890 Montagna Aug. 2, 19492,686,312 Schmidt Aug. 17, 1954 2,727,278 Thompson Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 161,141 Australia Feb. 14, 1955

2. A UNITARY MOLDED PLASTIC BRASSIERE COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS MEMBER OFUNIFORM THICKNESS HAVING A PAIR OF CUP PORTIONS, A BAND PORTION UNDERSAID CUP PORTIONS, SAID BAND PORTION BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH THECUP PORTIONS AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND INWARDLY, THE END PORTIONSTHEREOF BEING PROVIDED WITH ADJUSTMENT APERTURES SPACED IN HORIZONTALAND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS TO PROVIDE ADJUSTMENT FOR A CONNECTOR OR BACKSTRAP, AND AN ADJUSTABLE BACK STRAP REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAIDAPERTURES AT EACH END OF SAID BAND PORTION.